Howdy,
Interesting
effect need certainly...
FWIW I haven't done this show or had to do this
effect... But, and perhaps someone who has done this can fill in the gaps--the way I have
heard of this being done is in two parts: FIRST the nose is custom cast/made to fit the actors nose using regular casting methods, and the actual
prosthetic is secured around his head--but the key is that the
prosthetic tip is built using a hollow or copper tube for the tip (similar to Wiz of Oz's tin man's nose I guess)--to which at the near end is crimped in place a decently strong magnet. This 'nose' and tube is then painted and make-up covered over to make it look like wood
etc...but left also so it can be 'connected to' with other pieces later on to extend it. But what ends up happening is as the nose 'grows'--pinocchio simply cups his
face to hide it while adding the extensions...or waits for a time where someone walks in front of him or he turns around quickly or whatever--and adds on a few additional 'nose tubes' that also have magnets and they simply join together to extend...and the tube addition is flanged or tapered out at the bottom to just slide on over like you were connecting straws I guess...
The SECOND part of this
effect is completed simply
thru how the actor/ress reveals it--which is a old trick of perception--the actor faces the audience squarely and simply turns his head to one side or the other upwards and as the angle changes its as if its growing right then and there. Gives the 'illusion' of growing...but its simply an illusion since you can't tell length when facing it square on until it turns to one side...same for if he was faced away and simply did various
profile reveals....
But thats its... For other ideas--I am just guessing on this part--you should experiment if you decide to do this but
IMO I would think hollow cylinder, or disc style magents I presume would work best.. I would guess hollow cylinder so you can perhaps insert and better connect and stabilize the piece as its added onto--I dunno...I haven't built or tried to
build one of these yet to be able to troubleshoot or advise any better then give you the ideas to run with.. I would believe you have to use a strong magnet with a few lbs pull force to get a good lock together...but it can't be too strong or otherwise I would guess he would rip his nose off when trying to 'shrink' and he is tryin to separate the sections. But yet it needs to be a strong thing that can lock together well so it doesn't go flyiing off in scene too
etc...
Anyway--thats how I heard to do it....hope it helps. Perhaps someone else has another idea or better yet DONE the
effect to advise you better...but thats what I had understood for it. Oh yea--the actor keeps his nose pieces tucked in the costume--using the magnets in the nose the costumer simply sews washers in to seams to affix the nose parts to on a waist band or cuff or somewhere they can get to it covertly...
I would expect there should be a real way to
build one...and use an airbladder or some kind of plunger that extends out and a
hand squeeze air pump to do it (perhaps the handpump under the wig at the back so as its pressed on the back it extends forward--I dunno--haven't thought about this)...but my guess is that would be a possibility but also a
bit of a task to
build and do.....
Good luck and let us know what you do...
-w